Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
  • G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
  • G06F3/1288—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server in client-server-printer device configuration
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
  • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
  • G06F3/1206—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
  • G06F3/1211—Improving printing performance
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
  • G06F3/1237—Print job management
  • G06F3/1244—Job translation or job parsing, e.g. page banding
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
  • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
  • G06Q10/107—Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
  • H04N1/00204—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server
  • H04N1/00236—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
  • H04N1/00204—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server
  • H04N1/00236—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer
  • H04N1/00238—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/0008—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus
  • H04N2201/0065—Converting image data to a format usable by the connected apparatus or vice versa
  • H04N2201/0067—Converting to still picture data
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
  • H04N2201/0082—Image hardcopy reproducer
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
  • H04N2201/0091—Digital copier; digital 'photocopier'
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
  • H04N2201/0093—Facsimile machine

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to document distribution and more particularly to a module that provides the capability to send a document to multiple destinations.
• a driver for that device typically when sending an output to a device, a driver for that device must be loaded on the computer workstation that is sending the output.
• a driver is software program that enables other programs to work with a particular device without concerning themselves with the specifics of the device's hardware and internal language.
• a separate device driver is required for each device.
• the driver for each device In the case of a network where the output devices may be shared, the driver for each device must be loaded on each computer workstation on the network.
• each computer workstation on the network must be upgraded which can be a time consuming administrative task, especially on large networks.
• the destinations are different devices, such as a fax, e-mail, and printer.
• a user at a computer workstation would have to manually send the output to each device as each device has a different driver and requires different input parameters to direct the output.
• a fax machine typically needs the telephone number of the destination, a network printer may need information for a cover page, and an e-mail program may need the e-mail address of the recipients.
• the invention contemplates a method and system wherein a single generic driver is installed on a computer workstation for handling all output requests.
• a dynamic link library for example GUI.DLL, available on the computer workstation for obtaining the necessary parameters needed by the output device.
• the generic driver obtains the location of the particular dynamic link library via the computer workstation's system registry.
• the generic driver is invoked.
• the generic driver requests a destination for the output.
• the generic driver searches the system registry for a dynamic link library associated with the selected output destination.
• the dynamic link library is then executed and obtains parameters necessary for the output destination device and stores them in a file.
• the generic printer driver then reads the file with the stored parameters and generates an output file containing the output and commands based on the parameters for the server to process the output file.
• the output file is then sent to the server.
• the server parses the output file, processes the file like a driver so that the output is in the proper format for the destination, and then sends the output to the selected destination.
• FIG 1 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention:
• FIG 2 is a block diagram of -the steps of the method of the present invention.
• FIG. 1 there is shown a system, generally designated 100, for utilizing
• the system comprises a computer workstation 102 and a server 104 that are communicatively coupled to each other.
• the computer workstation 102 comprises a generic printer driver 106.
• the generic driver 108 is capable of generating an output with commands that can be parsed by the server 104.
• the server 104 then re-formats the output into the appropriate format for the o destination.
• the generic driver 106 obtains the parameters necessary for the output destination by calling the appropriate dynamic link library.
• the generic driver 108 searches the system registry 108 to obtain the location of the appropriate dynamic link library.
• the registry 108 has locations for a copier dynamic link library 110, a fax dynamic s link library 112, printer dynamic link library 114 and e-mail dynamic link library 116.
• Additional output devices may be made available to the computer workstation 102 by adding dynamic link libraries to the computer workstation 102 and storing the location of the library in the registry 108. It is also contemplated that multiple output devices of the same type may be installed on the computer workstation 102. For example, multiple o printers are suitably used by having a separate dynamic link library stored in the registry 108 of the computer workstation 102. Each printer's dynamic link library would contain information on the printer, such as location, queue, manufacturer and other pertinent information.
• a print file 118 is generated. Commands that may be parsed by the server are inserted into the print file 118 which is then sent to the server 104.
• the server using either software, hardware or a combination thereof, parses the commands as shown in block 120.
• the output is then directed to the appropriate destination with the necessary commands to operate the output device such as a copier 122, fax 124, printer o 126 or e-mail 128. While in Fig.
• the various output devices are shown separately, as those skilled in the art can readily appreciate, the present invention is compatible with multifunctional peripherals which may include, but are not limited to, one or more of a copier, facsimile machine, printer, and an e-mail server, and combinations thereof.
• the generic driver 102 calls dynamic link libraries to obtain the necessary parameters, it is not necessary for each output device to have a driver installed on the computer workstation 102. Whenever a new output device is added, it is only necessary to add a new dynamic link library on the computer workstation 102.
• the generic driver 102 sends the print file 118 to the file which then acts as the driver for the output destination.
• the server 104 is an iSP server and the generic driver 106 is an iSP driver.
• Fig. 2 there is shown the method of the present invention generally designated 200.
• the method begins by invoking the printer driver as shown in step 202.
• the printer driver then obtains the destination of the output.
• the generic driver 106 searches the system registry 108 as shown in step 206 for the dynamic link library associated with the selected destination.
• the dynamic link library then obtains the parameters for the destination device as shown in step 208.
• the parameters are temporarily stored as shown in step 210.
• the generic driver 106 reads the parameters which were temporarily stored in step 210. If more than one destination is specified, the parameters may stored in a separate file for each destination, or all the parameters may be stored in a single file.
• the generic printer driver generates a print file 118 and inserts a command into the print file 118.
• the driver inserts PJL commands " into the print file 118.
• the print file 118 is sent to the server 104.
• the server 104 parses the print file 118. Upon parsing the print file 118, the server 104 converts the output to a format that is compatible with the destination. At step 218 the server 104 sends the job to the destination.
• the server 104 acts as a driver for each output destination.
• the server 104 parses the print file and reads commands from the print file that are generated by the generic driver, and translates the commands and output to a format readable by the output destination.
• the generic print driver 106 that is compatibl with the server 104 is necessary at the computer workstation 102, along with dynamic link libraries for obtaining the required parameters for each output device.
• a copier dynamic link library would obtain information such as number of copies, where to staple the copies, or special papers that need to be printed such as tabbed paper or letterhead.
• the fax dynamic link library would obtain fax cover page information such as sender and recipient data and telephone numbers.
• the printer dynamic link library would obtain information such as which printer, queue, number of copies and other options or features available for the selected printer.
• the e-mail dynamic link library would obtain information such as recipient's e-mail addresses, subject line for the e-mail, or an accompanying message.
• system and method of the present invention can be utilized to send outputs to a multiplicity of destinations.
• a user at the computer workstation 102 may select multiple output destinations which would cause the generic driver 106 to execute the dynamic link library for each output destination.
• the generic driver 106 Upon completion of the execution of all of the necessary dynamic link libraries, the generic driver 106 would then build either a single print file 118 having a command for each output destination inserted into the print file 118 or the generic driver 106 would send a separate print file 118 for each destination. Building a separate print file is preferred as it would save bandwidth and processing time by the server 104.

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• 2002
  • 2002-04-19 US US10/126,718 patent/US20030200361A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2003
  • 2003-04-18 JP JP2003586828A patent/JP2006508416A/ja active Pending
  • 2003-04-18 AU AU2003231735A patent/AU2003231735A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-04-18 EP EP03747037A patent/EP1502232A4/de not_active Ceased
  • 2003-04-18 WO PCT/US2003/012153 patent/WO2003090158A1/en not_active Ceased
• 2007
  • 2007-01-17 US US11/623,987 patent/US20070153324A1/en not_active Abandoned

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